Steam radiator



April 5,4932; G. c. MOINTOSH STEAM RADIATOR Filed May 3, 1930 ull- V V l 3110M 11oz C 77761 1 0 Patented Apr. 5,

Lsazsa PATENT OFFICE GEORGE G'HCINTOSH, OF ST. CLAIR SHORES, MICHIGAN A STEAM RADIATOR v,

' Application med lay a, 1930. Serial No. 449,668.

This invention relatesto steam radiators and more particularly to electrically heated steam radiators, wherein a small quantity of water is'provided .in the radiator and electrically heated to form steam for giving off its heat to the surrounding atmosphere by circulation through the radiator. It is an object of the present invention to secure quick heat radiation and a rapid, continuous cir- 'culation of live steam, whereby the steam 16 is caused to give ofi" its heat with small heat loss and is thereby rapidlycooled and returned to be re-heated. A further object is to provide in a radiator, simple and efficient means for efi'ecting such .steam circulation 20 and for quickly conducting the live steam directly to that part of the radiator where the greatest heating efiect will be secured and without hindrance to such free flow of the live steam by the partially cooled heavier steam. It is also an object to provide means ,for this purpose, which may be embodied in a radiator of old and well known form and construction, or in any other suitable form oi heater, where a small quantity of water is heated to produce steam and the steam is cooled in giving ofi its heat and returned to be reheated, and to provide cer= tain other new and useful features, all as hereinafter more fully described.

With the above and other ends in view, the

- invention consists in the matters hereinafter set forth, and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of a conventional form of radiator with portions thereof in section substantially upon the line 11 of Fig. 2, to show the application of the present invention thereto;

Fig re 2 is a transverse section of Figure 1' an Figure 3 is a horizontal section substantially upon the line 3-3, of Fi re 1.

In the drawings is shown a re iator of conventional form to which the device embodying the present invention has been applied to illustrate its operation, but it will be understood that the present invention may be applied to any suitable construction of radiator. The radiator illustrated comprises a series of sections A which are secured together and are secured to a base B, these sections each forming a chamber comprising two legs, or passages 1, which are connected at the top of the radiator and open at their lower ends into the top of the base B which provides a water chamber 2. Within the water chamber 2 and extending from end to end thereof, is the heating element, which is encased within a tube 4, and this tube extends through an end wall of the base B to provide a connection 5 for the wires to the heating element 3, the opening through which the tube 4 extends in the end wall of the base B being closed water tight by means of a suitable gland 6. Supported within the chamber 2 and resting at its ends upon ledges 7 formed on the end walls of the chamber, is a tube 8, which tube is supported in concentric relation to the tube 4: and heating coil 8, is spaced therefrom, and is provided with a series of openings 9 in its lower side to permit the water in the chamber 2 to flow freely into the tube and come into contact with the heated casing 4t surrounding and enclosing the heating element. Secured within openings near the top of the tube 8 are small tubes 10 bent laterally and extended upwardly within the legs 1 of the steam chamber of each section A of the radiator. 'Jlhese tubes 10 openat the lower ends directly into the space between the tube 8 and the casing a, and openat their up per ends into the chamber or steam space of the radiator near the top thereof. Each section A of the radiator has two of these tubes extending upwardly therein, one within each of the legs of the steam chamber of the section.

Electrically heated radiators of this character are not generally provided with steam or water connections to deliver water or steam thereto, but may be freely moved about the room as desired. A comparatively small quantity of water is placed in the bottom chamber 2 on base B and is maintained at removal of the plug 1 at the top of the de- -vice. When the current is turned on, the

' coil3 is quickly brought tov a high temperature and heats the casing 4 surrounding this coil. As the water contained in the chamber 2 is free to flow into the tube 8 through the bottom openings 9, the water in this, tube 8 is quickly heated to produce steam, andas the only escape for the steam is through the tubes 10, this hot live steam is immediately conducted to the upper end of the radiator where it will quickly give off its heat to the wall of the radiator "and thence to the surrounding atmosphere'. This live steambeing quickly cooled by cominginto direct contact with the upper end wall of the radiator, becomes partially cooled and :falls towardthe bottom of the radiator along the legs 1 of the steam chamber and gradually condenses, the water of condensation passin directly into the chamber 2 and replenishmg the water therein which has been converted into steam in the tube 8. A rapid circulation is therefore set up in the radiator, the water which is confined within the tube 8 in contact with the casing 4 of the heating element, being quickly converted into steam, this steam being conducted by the tubes 10 directly to the top of the radiator where the hot live steam quickly gives oflf its heat and, being cooled thereby, drops down to the bottom of the radiator, replenishing the water in the chamher 2, which water flows through the openings 9 into the tube 8 to provide for the con tinued production of steam as long as the current is on the heating coil. The tubes 10 provide a direct passage for the live steam to the top of the radiator and this passage of live steam is not interfered with by the descending current of partially cooled steam and, therefore, a very rapid circulation is set up and live steam is 'conductedto that part of the radiator where it will most quickly give off its heat and this heat will be imparted to the surrounding atmosphere.

Obviously, the tubes 10 may be any suitable form of conduit, and the tube 8 which surrounds the heating element and confines a comparatively thin wall of water in direct contact with the heating element, may also be formed in any suitable convenient manner,

chamber in U form, as illustrated, with parand, as previously stated, any suitable form,

or construction of radiator structure may be employed, said structure having the steam allel legs, or a single chamber may be employedhaving a single steam conduit extendm upwardly therein to any desired height. 0 viously, other deviations from the consaid base, and in direct communication there with, a tube constituting a heating chamber Within said base and in communication with the base, heating means in said chamber, and

tubes extending from said chamber upwardly into said sections, said last named. tubes being open at their upper ends.

2. In a radiator, a base adapted to contain water, radiatorsections supported by said base and in direct communication therewith,

a tube within said base extending substantially, the entire length thereof and constitutin g aheating chamber, said tube having openings distributed along .the length thereof to place it in fluid communication with said base, heating means in said chamber, and tubes extending from said chamber upwardly into said sections, said last named tubes being open at their upper ends.

In testimony whereof I aflix m signature. GEORGE G. M0 NTOSH. 

